Fires torch ‘unfathomable’ 4 million acres in California
NEW YORK — New York City’smayor said Sunday that he has asked the state for permission to close schools and reinstate restrictions on nonessential businesses in several neighborhoods because of a resurgence of the coronavirus.
The action, if approved, would mark a retreat for a city that enjoyed a summer with less spread of the virus thanmost other parts of the country, and had only recently celebrated the return of students citywide to Orthodox Jewish populain-person learning in classtion. rooms. Nearly 1,100 people have people to evacuate. The path I hope. But that Shutdowns would haptested positive in Brooklyn enormity of the fires has doesn’t diminish the pen starting Wednesday in in the last four days, acmeant that people living far amount of work that still nine ZIP codes in the city, cording to state figures. SAN FRANCISCO — In from the flames experineeds to be done.” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. De Blasio, a Democrat, a year that has already enced a degree of misery Long- range forecast About 100 public schools made the announcement brought apocalyptic skies that in itself was unprecemodels hinted at the posand 200 private schools shortly after Gov. Andrew and smothering smoke to dented, with historically sibility of rain early next would have to close. Indoor Cuomocomplained that lothe West Coast, California unhealthy air quality and week. dining, which resumed a cal governments with coset a grim new record smoke so dense that it Fire officials said the few days ago, would be ronavirus hot spots had Sunday when officials anblurred the skies across Glass Fire burning in wine suspended. Outdoor “not done an effective job” nounced that the wildfires California and on some country for the past week restaurant dining would of enforcing social distancof 2020 have nowscorched days even blotted out the was their top priority. Easshut down in the affected ing rules. a record 4 million acres — sun. Last month, a heat ing winds over the weekneighborhoods aswell, and “If a local jurisdiction in a fire season that is far wave hit the state that end proved a mixed blessgymswould close. cannot or will not perform fromover. helped fuel the fires and ing for firefighters battling Houses of worship effective enforcement of
The figure — an area caused so much air polluthe giant blaze, which is would be allowedto remain violating entities, notify the larger than the state of tion that it seeped indoors, 17% contained. open with existing restricstate and we will close all Connecticut— ismore than prompting stores to sell out “We are seeing some tions in place, de Blasio business activity in the hot double the previous record of air purifiers. relief in theweather, but it’s said. spots where the local govfor themost land burned in Despite Sunday’s grim going to be three of four The mayor said he was ernments cannot do coma single year in California. milestone, therewere signs days before it reallymakes a taking the action in an pliance,” Cuomo said.
“The 4 million mark is for optimism. difference on the fire,” Cal attempt to stop the virus Cuomo did not immediunfathomable. It boggles Powerful winds that had Fire meteorologist Tom from spreading deeper into ately comment on de Blathe mind, and it takes your been expected to drive Bird said at a Sunday news the city and becoming a sio’s proposed shutdown in breath away,” said Scott flames in recent days briefing about the Glass “second wave,” similar to the areaswhere the virus is McLean, a spokesman for hadn’t materialized, and Fire. “The one good thing the one that killed more spiking. the California Department warnings of extreme fire going forward, we’re not than 24,000 New Yorkers Asmany as 500,000 peoofForestry andFireProtecdanger for hot, dry and expecting any wind events in the spring. ple live in the neighbortion, known as Cal Fire. gusty weather expired Satto push into the fire.” “We’ve learned over and hoods affected by the pro
Cal Fire said Sunday that urday as a layer of fog rolled Three fires, driven by over from this disease that posed shutdown, de Blasio there have been more than in. Clearer skies in some strong winds and high temit is important to act aggressaid. He said the lockdown 8,200 wildfires since the areas allowed large air peratures, merged into one sively, and when the data could be lifted in 14 days or start of the year that have tankers to drop retardant tearing into vineyards and tells us it’s time for even the 28 days if the percentage of burned “well over 4 million after being sidelined by forested mountain areas, toughest and most rigorous people testing positive for acres in California” or smoky conditions several including part of the city of actions, we follow the data, COVID-19 declines.
6,250 square miles. The days earlier. Santa Rosa. Thousands of we follow the science,” de The coronavirus was esprevious record was set “In certain areas, we people were under evacuaBlasio said. timated to have hit 1 million two years ago when wildwere able to get quite a bit tion orders, including the Over the past twoweeks, to 2 million people in New fires destroyed 1.67 million of aircraft in. So we really entire population of Calithe number of new cases of York City, mostly in the acres. pounded, a couple different stoga, a town of 5,000. the virus has been rising in spring before testing was
The fires of 2020 have areas hard with aircraft,” Across the state about pockets of the city, predomwidely available. Thoukilled 31 people, incinerMclean said. “If the 17,000 firefighters were at inantly in neighborhoods in sands of people fell ill each day.atedhundredsofhomesweatherdoeswhatispre-workbattlingnearlytwoBrooklynandQueensthat
and forced thousands of dicted, we’re on that glide dozen major blazes. are home to the city’s large By thesummer’s end, the